7 tips to keep your Windows PC protected against malware

Here are the best tips every Windows user should know to protect their computers and data against malware attacks.
The internet has already become part of our daily lives — be it searching, shopping, connecting with family and friends, and so much more. Our computers contain valuable personal information than ever, and more and more they're the targets of malicious actors. If you don't take steps to protect your computer and data, you're leaving the door wide-open to malware and hackers that will steal your data and take over your computer.
While viruses remain one of the most common forms of malware threats, ransomware attacks have spiked in recent years. This kind of malware locks your computer by encrypting all of your files and demanding that you pay a ransom, typically in Bitcoin, to unlock it all. The WannaCry attack is a perfect example of ransomware — it wreaked havoc hundreds of thousands of Windows computers around the world in a matter of days.